Native Education Newsletter

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 11/12/2024 02:58 PM PST

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Office of Native Education NEWSLETTER

November 12, 2024

Native Education | OSPI Website

Honoring Native Americans
Giving Thanks
ONE Convenings
The Work of ONE
Legislative Updates
On the Calendar

Honoring Native Americans

Join Us in Celebration of Native American Heritage Month

This monthlong celebration recognizes and honors the diverse cultures, traditions, and contributions of Native American peoples. Native American Heritage Month, established in 1990, encourages us to educate ourselves about the history of Native Americans and understand the significance of their societal roles and ongoing challenges.

Governor Inslee's Proclamation observes November as Native American Heritage Month and November 29 as Native American Heritage Day.

Check out the great work from our students and colleagues in Tulalip/Marysville:

Notable Native Americans - Janet McCloud Yet-Si-Blue

Notable Native Americans - Ladonna Bravebull Allard Tamakawastewin

Notable Native American - Stan Jones SR Scho-Hallem

Notable Native Americans - John McCoy lulilaš

Learn about the history and contributions of Native American communities through the following resources:

Washington Tribes

Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC)

Giving Thanks

Guidance for Celebrating Thanksgiving

Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°) provides educators and students with new perspectives on Native American history and cultures. Learn from the following resources to help you to honor and celebrate the holiday this month.

Rethinking Thanksgiving Celebrations: Native Perspectives on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Activity for the Classroom

Food & Culture of Pacific Northwest Natives

John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State

Lessons about Thanksgiving in elementary classrooms have historically misrepresented the events and people involved in the “first Thanksgiving.” Teachers are looking for guidance in teaching culturally and historically accurate lessons to young children. Updated research and texts supported by primary documents and tribal oral histories allow us to present more accurate representation of the story behind this tradition.

The Elementary Pathway 3: Giving Thanks lessons invite students to share their own fall and harvest traditions and teach students some of the cultural values and traditions of our country’s indigenous peoples.

Learn more about Tribal sovereignty in Washington State on the JMLSTI website.

ONE Convenings

Cowlitz Tribe Convening

Cowlitz JMLSTI Hosts Initial Gathering with Partner School Districts

On November 7th, 2024, the Cowlitz Tribe held its inaugural gathering with partner school districts. This event marked a significant step in fostering collaboration and enhancing educational opportunities for students across the region.

Highlights of the Day:

Tribal History Presentation: Attendees were treated to an insightful presentation on the rich history and culture of the Cowlitz Tribe. This session aimed to deepen understanding and appreciation of the tribe’s heritage among educators and students alike.
Model Programming: The event showcased innovative educational programs designed to integrate traditional knowledge with modern science and technology. These model programs serve as a blueprint for future educational initiatives within the partner districts.
Tribal Partnering: A key focus of the gathering was on building strong partnerships between the Cowlitz Tribe and the participating school districts. Discussions centered around collaborative projects and strategies to support student success through culturally responsive education.

The Cowlitz JMLSTI, which stands for the John McCoy Since Time Immemorial curriculum, is committed to creating a dynamic learning environment that honors tribal traditions while preparing students for future challenges. This initial gathering set the stage for ongoing collaboration and shared growth.

The Work of ONE

Career & Skill Development Impact Film Series

In partnership with Region 16 Comprehensive Center, ONE developed a film series Career & Skill Development Impact Stories. This film series highlights culturally sustaining career and skill development programs in Washington state. The videos feature interviews with programs that are deeply involved in career and skill development. The highlighted programs include Chief Leschi School (Puyallup Tribe), Enumclaw School District (Muckleshoot Tribe), Taholah School District (Quinault), and Kalispel Training Center (Kalispel Tribe).

The videos have been awarded an "Award of Excellence" for Video: Informational: Over 10,000 students by the Washington School Public Relations Association.

Check out these other videos that our office has created in partnership:

R16CC Career & Skill Development Videos

R16CC Building Bridges to Literacy; Centering Family and Community Wisdom

Career Connect Washington North Central MVP

ClimeTime Outdoor Education at Pascal Sherman Indian School

ClimeTime: Chief Leschi Salmon Release

JMLSTI Website Progress Report

Exciting Updates to our John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial (JMLSTI) Curriculum Website!

The Office of Native Education is thrilled to announce that we are in the process of updating our JMLSTI curriculum website to enhance useability and accessibility for everyone! Our goal is to make a more user-friendly experience that allows educators and students to easily navigate and access the amazing resources we have available to bring JMLSTI to all educators in Washington state.

We are currently working to clean up broken links and make the Elementary, Middle School and High School social studies curriculum a highlight to the many additional resources and videos available. The layout is being reorganized and content is being expanded to include tribal place-based curriculum. We believe these changes will significantly improve user experience and make it easier for educators to engage with our educational resources.

If you need assistance accessing any curriculum in the meantime, please reach out to nativeeducation@k12.wa.us and we will be happy to get you what you need! Stay tuned for more updates and thank you for supporting Native Education!

Tribal Language Program

The Tribal Language Grant (FP 748) launched in September and closed October 18. The team has started reviewing and approving applications. Once an application is approved, recipients will be able to begin making claims. There were 26 applicants who proposed a variety of high-quality language programs. The team was impressed with the collaboration demonstrated in the Letters of Support and MOUs between the LEAs and their tribal partners.

Thank you to all who applied. We are here to support you as you provide our students with this most important opportunity to connect to their tribal languages.

Visit our Tribal Languages website to learn more.

STEC School Visits

The Office of Native Education will be visiting the following schools next month to meet with administrators and student leadership to offer our support and hear student voice. Among discussion and touring of schools, there will be opportunities to check in on CTE, Native Language, and JMLSTI programs.

Upcoming STEC school site visits:

Chief Kitsap Academy: December 3 | 11am-3pm
Wa He Lut: December 5 | 8am-12pm

Legislative Updates

2025–27 Operating Budget Decision Package

Lifting Up American Indian and Alaska Native Students Through a State Match of Federal Title VI Grant Funds

Washington has an obligation to educate American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students under both the state constitution and treaties with federally recognized tribes. OSPI is requesting funding to match the federal investment in AI/AN students through Title VI.

On the Calendar

Upcoming Conferences

WSSDA Annual Conference: PERSPECTIVE

The Office of Native Education will be attending the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) Annual Conference this month.

When: November 21-23 | Where: Spokane Convention Center

Government-to-Government Relationships Training

December 13 | Location TBD

Look for more information to be posted to the Tribal Consultation website soon.

This training fulfills the Government-to-Government Relationships with federally recognized Tribes new certificate renewal requirements for all teachers, administrators, including all principals, assistant principals, program administrators, Career and Technical Education (CTE) directors, and superintendents. New requirements are a result of HB 1426 and WAC 181-79A-244.

Site Visits & Professional Development

December 3: Chief Kitsap Academy Site Visit
December 4: ONE In-person Professional Development
December 5: Wa He Lut Site Visit

ALL STUDENTS PREPARED FOR POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS, CAREERS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.

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